River Mile: 52.6 - right
Time: 1 hour , 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. This is a short hike on a trail, but it is steep. Bad knees will not like the descent.
Wet or Dry?: Dry.
Ideal Weather: Cool or Moderate
Potential: This trail stops at the Cliffside granaries, but there are numerous hiking options up Nankoweap Creek.
A hike to the granaries above the Nankoweap Delta is a Grand Canyon classic. The main attraction here is a prehistoric ruin, but even if you aren’t interested in the archeology the hike is still worthwhile because of the great downstream view.
From any of the Nankoweap camps, find your way to the trail that connects the different camps, located at the base of the slope. Try to start on the main routes to avoid multiple trailing. Follow this connector trail until a spur trail heads up to the granaries. This spur-trail junction is located about halfway up the hill that is to the sough of Nankoweap Creek. It is easiest to find your way if you locate the granaries is well used but steep. Stick it out-the top will reward you with a famous and photogenic downstream view.
The granaries were used to store seeds for beans and squash. The Puebloans farmed the Nankoweap Delta in addition to gathering mesquite “beans” and other meager nutritional sources of the desert.